Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
Also known as: Scarlet Flycatcher, Common Vermilion Flycatcher, Vermillion Flycatcher
About This Species
The male's vivid red plumage makes this flycatcher easy to spot as it perches conspicuously on low branches, fence wires, or shrubs near water, sallying out to catch flying insects before returning to the same perch. It favours open scrub, riparian woodland edges, and desert washes, and is most active and visible on sunny mornings when insect activity peaks. Breeding males also perform a fluttering display flight, which is a good way to locate a territory.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A distance of ten to twenty metres is generally sufficient to watch feeding or displaying birds without causing them to shift perches repeatedly.
- Wildlife protection law covering native birds applies across its range in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central and South America, though specifics vary by country, so avoid approaching known nest sites at any time.
- Watching quietly from a fixed spot rather than following the bird as it moves between perches causes less disturbance.
LCAvesPasseriformesTyrannidae
Seasonal Activity
1,132,986 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.